St.+Michael-Albertville+Schools

=PROTECTING OUR SCHOOL'S BACKYARD=

PROJECT DETAILS
//Title: Protecting Our School's Backyard// //Collaborators: Julie Myran (1st Grade Teacher) and Kristina Kampa (Media Specialist)// //School and District: Fieldstone Elementary, St. Michael-Albertville School District #885// //Content Providers: Minneosta DNR.// //Grade level: 1// //Subject Areas: Science and Technology// //Recommended Time Frame: 8 weeks//

MN State Standards Alignment
//Science//
 * 1. The Nature of Science and Engineering
 * 1. The Practice of Science
 * Scientists work as individuals and in groups to investigate the natural world, emphasizing evidence and communicating with others.
 * 4. Life Science
 * 1. Structure and function in living systems
 * Living things are diverse with many different observable characteristics.

MEMO Informational and Technology Literacy Standards


 * Strand: Inquiry, Research, and Problem Solving: The student will learn a continuous cycle of questioning, gathering, synthesizing, evaluating, and using information individually and collaboratively to create new knowledge and apply it to real world situations.
 * II. Gather
 * E.Record information using a variety of methods.
 * IV. Communicate
 * C. Work individually and collaboratively to share knowledge.

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
//The theme for this project is exploring and understanding the backyard of our school and how students can do their part as a citizen to protect it.//

//Key skills that will be assess are//
 * Ability to work in groups
 * Ability to record observations
 * Ability to follow directions

The habits of mind that students will practice are curiosity and flexibility.

The school wide outcome will be for students to have an understanding of how to protect the school's backyard.

Summarize the theme for this project and identify the content standards and key skills you will assess. Identify the habits of mind students will practice and any district or school-wide outcomes included in this project. The project should meet the criteria for standards-focused PBL.

DRIVING QUESTION
//How can I (student) protect our school's backyard?//
 * What makes up our school's backyard?
 * How does it change?

ASSESSMENT
//Photographs//
 * Students will take five photographs showing their nature observations from the backyard.
 * (See Science Standard 1, 1, 1 and MEMO standard II, E)

Written Observations
 * Students write at least one observation at each station.
 * (See Science Standard Standard 1, 1, 1 and 4,1,1 and MEMO standard IV, C)

Artifact Bracelet

Diorama
 * Students will collect 5 artifacts from the school's backyard.
 * (See Science Standard 1, 1, 1)

Video
 * Students will work collaboratively in small groups to create a diorama of how they would protect the school's backyard. They will use some of their artifacts to create this.
 * (See Science Standard 1, 1, 1 and MEMO standard IV, C)
 * Students will create a video using a Flip Camera to explain their project.
 * (See MEMO II, E)

MAP THE PROJECT
The follwing is a list of lesson plan titiles. See the attached lesson plans for more detail.
 * 1) Nature Hike and Observation I
 * 2) Artifact Bracelet
 * 3) Nature Hike and Observation II
 * 4) Diorama
 * 5) Video
 * 6) Display diorama and videos at a school wide event

MANAGE THE PROCESS
//How will you manage and facilitate this project?//


 * 1) As a class, we will create a list of guidelines for the school's backyard.
 * 2) Guidelines will be reviewed each time before going to the school's backyard.
 * 3) A meeting space will be determined for the class to meet each time they are outside.
 * 4) Each lesson will be concluded back in the classroom.

=PROJECT RESOURCES=

Web Resources
[|http;//www.bie.org]